My MacBook Pro Sucks
September 10th, 2006 Filed in: Reviews, Mac Jump to commentsI recently bought a new MacBook Pro (my first Apple computer). Yes, I am one of the switchers. I have been a PC user for a while until Apple introduced Intel-based Mac notebook. I was tempted by the MacBook Pro and brought a 15.4-inch display, 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo, with 2GB of RAM (upgraded from 1GB). After couple hours of fun playing around with the Mac OS X, I installed Adobe CS2 and did couple test runs. I was so disappointed on its performance. It even runs slower than my old PC laptop (1.5GHz Centrino with 1GB RAM). That is impossible since the new MacBook has 2.16GHz CPU with 2GB of RAM. I thought it could be my Adobe software issue. So I went to install Macromedia Studio 8 to see how it perform. Same result - slow.
I got frustrated and did a quick search on Google. I found this review from MacWorld. Apparently, neither Adobe CS2 nor Macromedia Studio 8 supports Intel-based Macs (running on Rosetta) yet. Fortunately, Adobe has announced that they will fix this issue to support Intel-based Mac computers in the next versions. So, if you are planning to get a MacBook Pro as your work computer, you’ll be better off waiting until Adobe release the next version of Creative Suite.
Note: Universal application like Safari, iLife and Mail are running fine and smoothy on my MacBook.
Update
June 6, 2007
I’m now using Adobe CS3 on my MacBook and they run very nice. However, I still have problem with the heat issues (extremely hot when charging). I heard the second generation released in Oct 2006 is faster than my first generation and the heat issue is resolved.
May 5th, 2008 at 9:44 am
This is food for thought. I was looking to buy a macbook air. I don’t know why they don’t make it in glossy white. For that reason I might just go for the glossy white macbook..
May 4th, 2008 at 6:08 am
I’ve been a MacBook Pro user since it came out, and even though I’m using the first edition I can’t complain on it’s performance. Of course, with the change to intel processors many applications were running slow, but hey. You’d see the same if Microsoft decided to switch to PowerPC processors. All in all I think Apple did a great job with Rosetta and the transfer to Intel processors was way easier that a lot of us had expected.
The only thing I can complain about on my MacBook Pro is, as with many of them, that the thermal paste is used in wrong amounts and applied wrong. This is the root of most of the heat problems, since heat doesn’t travel to the temperature sensors or the fans easily. Find the closest geek and have him/her fix it for you.
Ian: True. Although in Leopard they’re bright dots. To close a window you can also use the shortcut Command-W, and to close the application Command-Q. Press Command-Tab to switch applications, and if you hold down the Command button while doing so you can close the applications you want by just pressing Q when they’re marked. And so on. Really, there’s a million shortcuts and wonderful possibilities to assign your own.
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I am with folks who says MacBook Pro & Mac OS sucks. I have bought this recently and having a lot of problem. I am one of the crazy man that had decide to switch and try this mac.
Whatever Microsoft XP is the right choice. I was using MS proucts since 20 years and never had a problem.
Now Everyday I am kind of struggling with this toy (Mac/OS) and crying..
:-(
April 29th, 2008 at 10:19 am
I bought a macbook pro in January ‘08 and it also gets really hot, especially when its on charge. Ive never had a problem with photoshop or illustrator though. It all runs pretty quick on here!
April 24th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Have you tried a app called smcFanControl its free and keeps my machine nice and cool, and the performance is better as well. Just a thought!!!
April 19th, 2008 at 10:18 am
And to close, ctrl+click quit, or file-quit.
April 18th, 2008 at 6:09 am
I never was much of a macbook fan, even after they released the macbook air.
I’d rather have an ASUS EE PC than a mac anyday :)
April 15th, 2008 at 5:56 am
The problem actually is not with your Mac. Unfortunately, some software are not compatible or supported by Mac. One major thing or advantage of Mac over the others is its ability to protect itself from all viruses and harm in any form which may result from installation and downloads.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:05 am
And to close, ctrl+click quit, or file-quit.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:04 am
A simple thing alot of switchers dont know is the red close button closes the window, not the program itself. So you probably have 10 things open at once and dont relise it. To tell if a program is open, there will be a little triangle at the bottom of the icon.